Kumamoto earthquake telecom response

The magnitude‑6.6 quake that hit Kumamoto Prefecture on 27 July 2026 devastated the region’s telecommunications network, knocking out thousands of fixed‑line connections and dozens of cellular base stations operated by KDDI, NTT Docomo, SoftBank and Rakuten Mobile. In the immediate aftermath, Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications dispatched an emergency team, loaned a Starlink satellite terminal to each of the cities of Uto and Uki, and asked major digital platforms to limit the spread of misinformation. Carriers rolled out a temporary “JAPAN Roaming” service to allow users to switch between operators, and the government opened a free public Wi‑Fi network called “00000JAPAN”.

The following day, telecom operators KDDI, NTT Docomo and Wi2 formally launched the “00000JAPAN” disaster Wi‑Fi across Kumamoto, using existing hotspots, offering open (unencrypted) access without passwords to ensure rapid connectivity for residents and evacuees. Users were cautioned against transmitting personal data while connected. The coordinated effort illustrates Japan’s rapid deployment of both satellite and ground‑based solutions to restore communications after a major natural disaster.